Goshwe Nentawe Yilwatda
481,370 votes (44.55%)
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Goshwe Nentawe Yilwatda is a Nigerian politician who contested the 2023 Gubernatorial Elections as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in Plateau. They received 481K votes (44.55%).
Biography
Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda (born 8 August 1968) is a Nigerian politician, engineer and academic who has served as the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress since 2025. He previously served as the minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development from October 2024 to July 2025. He was the flag bearer for his party in the 2023 gubernatorial election in Plateau State. Yilwatda was the resident electoral commissioner in Benue state from July 2017 to December 2021.
He was also the ICT director at the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, for 12 years. He was nominated and appointed as the All Progressive Congress National Chairman on 24 July 2025. Yilwatda was born on 8 August 1968 in Dungung, Kanke. He attended Boy's Secondary School, (BSS) Gindiri from 1981 to 1986. He later secured admission into the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi.
Yilwatda was selected as the coordinator of the Tinubu/Shettima Campaign Organization in Plateau state during the 2023 general elections. He and the ex-governor of Plateau state, Simon Lalong maintain a solid relationship. After Plateau state Ministerial slot became vacant following Lalong's emergence as the senator representing Plateau South senatorial district, party chieftains and political groups canvassed for Yilwatda to be nominated to replace Lalong. He was nominated for the position of a Minister by President Bola Tinubu and upon successful screening by the National Assembly, he was inaugurated as Minister of Humanitarian Affairs on 24 October 2024. Yilwatda challenged the victory of the Peoples Democratic Party in Plateau State 2023 gubernatorial election at the court. After the apex court ruled in favor of the People's Democratic Party, Yilwatda accepted the judgement.
Yilwatda headed the ICT unit while at the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi. Afterwards, he was appointed as the resident electoral commissioner, Benue State. He resigned from this position to contest in the Plateau State gubernatorial primaries of the All Progressives Congress in 2022. In 2017, President Muhammadu Buhari appointed Yilwatda as Benue state resident electoral commissioner. To address the prevalence of disenfranchisement of Internally displaced persons, Yilwatda was involved in the successful management of voting in IDP camps and for people living with disabilities. Other contributions included the assessment of the electronic voting system.
Yilwatda served as the director of ICT, developing a 10-year ICT strategy plan encompassing ICT architecture and information flows associated with various functions, processes, and key reports. He was a member of the University's Senate from 2006 to 2017. Yilwatda is a Christian, married to Dr. Martina Yilwatda Goshwe, and has a son, Beji Nentawe Goshwe. He lives in Rayfield, Jos South, Plateau State. Yilwatda was among the awardees at the Top 50 Digital Economy Leaders event organized by IT Edge News Africa. He was a keynote speaker at the event and received the 'best director of the year' award in the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi in 2012.
Party Positions
Policy positions from the All Progressives Congress (APC) party manifesto.
Agriculture
Launches the Irrigate Nigeria Project as a public-private partnership to develop small-scale irrigation and water catchment systems using modern technology to boost agricultural productivity.
Security & Defense
Will deploy modern aerial surveillance and advanced technology to monitor and deter intrusions into oil pipelines, power stations, and other critical national infrastructure in real time.
Environment & Climate
Accelerates the environmental cleanup and re-establishment of fisheries and profitable aquacultural activities in the Niger-Delta region to counter violent extremism and poverty-driven disaffection.
Economy & Trade
Will implement the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) and additional favorable policies to attract investment in deep-water assets within 6 months, including encouraging signature bonus negotiations and royalty reliefs.
Infrastructure
Creates regional industrial hubs in specific zones (North West, North East, South East, South South, South West, North Central) to focus on labor-intensive manufacturing, with tailored investments (e.g., textiles, dry ports, glass, pottery, solid minerals, regulated mining).
Enterprise grant support
Work with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to simplify loan processes for commercial banks, mandate federally owned banks to provide low-cost loans to youth-led enterprises, and expand business incubation centers to support youth innovation.
Energy
Will mandate gas metering equipment on all facilities where gas flaring occurs within 6 months and establish a special enforcement unit to monitor compliance with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) on gas flaring reduction, with non-compliance leading to financial penalties for affected communities.
Governance & Reform
Reserve at least 3 cabinet positions for individuals under 40 and 6 more positions for members under the age of 40, and mandate that at least 20% of political appointments to Ministries/Dangomas (MDAs) be reserved for individuals under 40.
Education
Raises the priority of addressing out-of-school children, establishes a task force to review and strengthen programs like school feeding, and aims to reduce disaffected youth recruitment by violent groups.
Healthcare
Will establish a network of upgraded, equipped, and staffed general hospitals in every Local Government Area, tertiary facilities in each State, and world-class specialist hospitals in each geo-political zone to improve healthcare accessibility and quality.
Technology & Digital
Supports the development of MSMEs through partnerships with fintech players to expand access to capital and business development services.
Reliefs and scholarships
Commits to a conditional income support program requiring recipients to meet human capital goals (school attendance, healthcare, nutrition) in exchange for payments.
In The News
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Other Candidates in Plateau
Kwapdimma Francis Ritshak
NRMSani Dawop
ADPDakum Patrick Sunday
LPDabwan Alfred Clark
NNPPGontori Butdangman
YPPAmos Yibaikas Adamu
AABrowse
Sources
Bio, State of Origin: Wikipedia ↗
Date of Birth: INEC ↗
Gender, Qualifications, Running Mate: INEC ↗